Portable cigarette snuffer

ABSTRACT

A portable cigarette snuffer for snuffing a lit cigarette comprising: a top cap; a bottom portion; a means to connect the top cap to the bottom portion, where said top portion includes a hollow space extending above the bottom portion after connection thereto; and a means to snuff a lit cigarette within the bottom portion. In one exemplary embodiment, the means to connect includes threads within the top cap and the bottom portion or alternatively a lip within the top cap. The portable cigarette snuffer may also include a clip on the top cap. The means to snuff may include a cigarette encasement for storing a cigarette within snuffer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/348955 filed on May 27, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a portable cigarette snuffer andstorage compartment.

2. Description of Related Art

Although cigarette smoking has decreased in recent years, manyindividuals continue to enjoy cigarettes in their leisure. Cigarettesmoking involves the igniting of tobacco that's rolled in paper andusually has a filter attached to one end thereof. The tobacco is ignitedat the end of the cigarette opposite of the filter and is consumed bythe smoker. Cigarette smoking is restricted in many public areas due torecent concerns regarding second-hand smoke and to generally discouragethe use of tobacco products. For the smokers the recent restrictionshave become a problem. Many smokers must leave their workplace and gooutdoors to consume cigarettes during a break from work. The restrictedor time limited consumption of cigarettes may pose a problem to thecigarette smoker. Sometimes the period of time that an individual has tosmoke a cigarette is limited; therefore, the smoker occasionally smokesonly a portion of their cigarette and then must discard the remainingportion and return to work. The smoker could consume the discarded orwasted portion of the cigarette at a later time, if it were available.

Most cigarette snuffers are used in conjunction with an ashtray or acigarette disposal device where the cigarette is inserted into thesnuffer to extinguish the cigarette and any remaining portion of thecigarette is disposed in the ashtray. One example of a cigarette snufferis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,773 that relates to the ashtray thatincludes one or more hollow cylindrical extinguishers mounted thereon inorder to provide a means for extinguishing cigarettes. U.S. Pat. No.6,321,757 discloses a cigarette packet ash holder/extinguisher forneatly keeping cigarettes and the ashes within a single container. Thecigarette pack and ash holder/extinguisher includes a container with aplurality of compartments with the first one of which being adapted toreceive and store a pack of cigarettes and a second one of which beingadapted to receive and store cigarette ashes and spent cigarettes. Thepacket also includes a tubular member securely disposed in one emptysection of one of the compartments adapted to extinguishing a cigarette.

The use of cigarettes continues despite warnings, therefore it would beadvantageous to have a device that enables a cigarette smoker to snuffout a cigarette and save the single cigarette for later use as desired.Further it would also be advantageous if this device could be easilystored in the smoker's pocket and conveniently accessed by the smoker asneeded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable cigarette snuffer forsnuffing a lit cigarette comprising: a top cap; a bottom portion; ameans to connect the top cap to the bottom portion, where said topportion includes a hollow space extending above the bottom portion afterconnection thereto; and a means to snuff a lit cigarette within thebottom portion. In one exemplary embodiment, the means to connectincludes threads within the top cap and the bottom portion oralternatively a lip within the top cap. The portable cigarette snuffermay also include a clip on the top cap. The means to snuff may include acigarette encasement for storing a cigarette within snuffer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a portable cigarette snuffer as contemplated by thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a portable pocket snuffer for snuffingand storing a single cigarette. The pocket snuffer, according to thepresent invention, includes a top portion and bottom portion thatconnect together to form a small portable cylindrical snuffer. Thesnuffer may be used by the smoker to snuff out a cigarette and to storeany unconsumed portion of the cigarette within the snuffer for lateruse. In reference to FIG. 1 a portable snuffer 10 is depicted. Theportable snuffer 10 includes a top cap 13 and a bottom portion 17. Thebottom portion 17 and the top cap 13 are connected together at theconnected point 11. The bottom portion 17 and top cap 13 may includethreads to connect the top cap 13 and bottom 17 together. Alternatively,a lip or other attachment means may be provided to connect the top cap13 and bottom portion 17. Once the top cap 13 is removed a snuffer, notshown, is provided within the bottom portion 17. A smoker may place alit cigarette within the snuffer of the bottom portion 17 and thenreturn the top cap 13 onto the bottom portion 17. The cigarette wouldconsequently be extinguished and therefore available for later use bythe smoker. As depicted, the portable snuffer 10 is a substantiallycylindrical device with a top surface 15 and a clip 12 provided on thetop cap 13.

The portable snuffer 10 provides a safe and effective device toextinguish cigarettes and to store them for later consumption. Theportable snuffer 10 essentially provides a cigarette encasement wherethe used cigarette may be completely contained within the snuffer 10.The snuffer 10 therefore extinguishes the cigarette once the top cap 13is placed upon the bottom portion 17. The cigarette is available for useat a later time and therefore helps the smoker to prevent unnecessarywaste and economic consumption of cigarettes. Further, the portablesnuffer 10 supplies a quick method to extinguish the cigarette withoutthe lingering smoke that may develop in other instances using opencigarette snuffers and ashtrays. In one particular embodiment, theportable snuffer 10 is about 3½ inches long with a 1-inch diameter. Thesnuffer 10 may be made of stainless steel or similar metal with theattachment clip 12 provided so that the snuffer may be convenientlytransported in a shirt pocket.

Although it has become popular to discourage smoking, such a device isvery convenient due to the limited options for public cigarette smoking.The portable snuffer further provides an economic means for cigarettesmokers to consume their cigarettes and may help facilitate smokingcessation. The instant invention has been shown and described in what itconsiders to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made there from within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. A portable cigarette snuffer for snuffing a lit cigarette comprising:a. a top cap; b. a bottom portion; c. a means to connect the top cap tothe bottom portion, where said top portion includes a hollow spaceextending above the bottom portion after connection thereto; and d. ameans to snuff a lit cigarette within the bottom portion.
 2. Theportable cigarette snuffer according to claim 1 where the means toconnect includes threads within the top cap and the bottom portion. 3.The portable cigarette snuffer according to claim 1, where the means toconnect includes a lip within the top cap.
 4. The portable cigarettesnuffer according to claim 1, further including a clip on the top cap.5. The portable cigarette snuffer according to claim 1, where the meansto snuff includes a cigarette encasement for storing a cigarette withinsnuffer.
 6. A method of extinguishing a cigarette by using a snufferwith a top cap and a bottom portion comprising the steps of: a. removingthe top cap from the snuffer; b. inserting a lit cigarette into acigarette encasement within the bottom portion; c. connecting the topcap to the bottom portion; and d. enclosing the cigarette in thecigarette encasement.